Sustainability Talks and Conversations
The 'Arts Power' sustainability talks programme as part of Queen’s University Belfast Arts and Sustainability Festival, ‘Reach’25’, explored the role of arts and culture in addressing climate change.
'Refurb Renaissance: Prioritising the Re-use of Buildings in Transition to a Net Zero Future'.
This year's conference will take place on Tuesday 25th February 2025, 8.45am to 3.45pm.
The conference will delve into critical topics such as energy performance standards, carbon optioneering, and biodiversity enhancement, all within the context of prioritising the re-use of existing buildings.
Registration is now closed.
Queen's annual Student Sustainability Summit was held on Tuesday 28 January, 5.30pm to 7.30pm, in The Cube One Elmwood
The Student Sustainability Summit provides students with the opportunity to discuss and advocate for positive, sustainable change within Queen's University and beyond.
This year we were joined by panel members from Queen's University Belfast, Alliance Party, Department for Infrastructure, Belfast City Council and Friends of the Field.
Discussions focused on divestment, travel and embedding sustainability into our curriculum.
Queen's University Belfast, in collaboration with Belfast City Council, Translink and the Department for Infrastructure participated in a panel event discussing active travel in Belfast.
On Wednesday 2 October, Queen's University hosted the 'Transforming Travel Through Partnership' event, which saw experts from Belfast City Council, the Department for Infrastructure, Queen's University and Translink discussing active and sustainable travel in Belfast and how we improve this using a collaborative approach.
There were some fantastic points discussed by the panel regarding active travel and cycling in Belfast, multi-modal transport, connecting the city and increasing efficiency, and how the organisations work collaboratively to make this a reality in our city.
The panel event coincided with the opening of a brand new cycle shelter that is opening at the back of the Administration building. The cycle shelter will accommodate up to 54 bikes in a covered and secured environment, and, for the first time at the University, offer staff and students e-bike charging facilities for bikes with detachable batteries.
Queen's University Belfast, in collaboration with Bryson Recycling and Belfast City Council, hosted its first Arts and Sustainability festival called Reach '24.
The festival began on 18 April with the opening of an art exhibition in the Naughton Gallery called 'Full of Wonder or Full of Plastic? You Decide.' created by Prof. Ingrid Hess from University of Massachusetts Lowell. The exhibition explores the impacts of plastic waste on our oceans.
The festival also hosted inspiring presentations from individuals leading the way in the arts and sustainability sectors, including a keynote presentation from Alison Tickell, Director of Julie's Bicycle, Tania Benotti, Director of Creative Ireland, and others.
In addition, Queen's Film Theatre hosted a special screening of two environmental documentaries about rising sea levels, followed by a panel discussion.
You can read more about the festival here. And view recordings of the festival here.
Queen’s University Belfast held its first Sustainable Construction Conference – a half-day event designed to deepen knowledge of reducing carbon in buildings.
The construction conference was organised in partnership with South West College, Belfast City Council, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and HOK, the conference, which was open to all those involved in the design, construction and operation of the built environment, took place in the University’s historic Riddel Hall. There were 200+ delegates in attendance and fantastic discussions had regarding sustainability in the construction sector.
Speakers included Debbie Caldwell (Climate Commissioner, Belfast City Council), Dr Joe Jack Williams (Partner, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios), Una Barrett (KTP Associate, Queen’s) and Gary Clark (Principle Lead for Science and Technology, HOK).
To read the story about the, please click here. A recording of the speakers and panel event is located below.
Queen's University's Sustainability Team hosted a Student Summit in January 2024.
Queen’s University annual Student Sustainability Summit took place on Tuesday 30 January.
This was a great opportunity to discuss key sustainability concerns that students have around education, travel, food and banking with Queen’s University staff, and other guest speakers responding to their queries.
Queen's Annual Sustainability Lecture took place on Thursday 19 October with Sir Jonathon Porritt.
The lecture was titled ‘The Climate Crisis : Why we need to dig deeper’.
6 December 2023
As part of a series of COP28 events, the Sustainability Team hosted a panel discussion in December 2023 within the Crescent Arts Centre with a number of expert panellists discussing the topic 'Connecting Belfast: Transforming Travel'.
Panel members include representatives from the Alliance Party, Federation of Small Businesses, Queen's University Belfast, Sustrans, Translink and Department for Infrastructure.